Georgia Innocence Project

atlnbell

ATLANTA – Today, Lloyd and Melissa Pierce pledged a significant financial contribution to the Georgia Innocence Project (GIP), an independent nonprofit organization that works to correct and prevent wrongful convictions in Georgia, on Friday, Oct. 2 which marks Wrongful Conviction Day – the annual international observance dedicated to ending wrongful convictions and highlighting the plight of those convicted of crimes they did not commit. The Pierce family has committed to matching up to $15,000 of financial contributions that are donated in recognition of Wrongful Conviction Day. 

Based on recent studies, it is estimated that approximately five percent of all people in prison are innocent of the crimes they are imprisoned for. For the state of Georgia, that means more than 2,000 people are currently in prison for crimes they did not commit.

“With the current climate in our country, we felt compelled to grow our partnership with GIP. In the midst of this pandemic, the need to intelligently pursue criminal justice reform and address mass incarceration issues is urgent,” Lloyd and Melissa Pierce jointly said. “The incredible level of passion, expertise and dedication to serving those wrongfully convicted independent of their personal resources and intense pursuit of justice for all makes us proud to play any role we can in bringing awareness to their work.”

Along with the Pierce family, the Atlanta Hawks created a special co-branded apparel bundle with GIP in 2019. The popular $35 bundle, which includes a t-shirt, hat and band, has been re-released and is available for purchase online at HawksShop.com with 100 percent of proceeds going directly to support the GIP until Monday, Oct. 5.

The Pierce family hosted exonerees and their family members at multiple Hawks game last season, providing exclusive access to warmups, media availabilities and locker room tours while educating fans in attendance about GIP and the exonerees. Lloyd Pierce has also served as a keynote speaker at the national Innocence Network convention.

Pierce will also appear alongside Jimmie C. Gardner, a GIP board member who was wrongfully convicted for 27 years, and Melissa Redmon, the Director of UGA School of Law's Prosecutorial Justice Program, this Friday at 4 p.m. ET during the first-ever Wrongful Conviction Day livestream this Friday for "Race &amp; Wrongful Conviction: Moving from Outrage to Action," a conversation about the intersection of wrongful conviction and the Movement for Black Lives. 

“We are so grateful to the Pierce family for this generous gift, especially ahead of Wrongful Conviction Day,” said Georgia Innocence Project Executive Director Clare Gilbert. “In this critical moment of reckoning and reform–as COVID-19 ravages Georgia’s prisons–the work is more pressing than ever, and the continued partnership of Coach Pierce and the Atlanta Hawks significantly increases awareness and helps drive change around wrongful convictions in Georgia.”

Georgia Innocence Project provides free legal representation to people in Georgia who have been convicted of serious crimes that they did not commit. GIP also works to prevent future wrongful convictions by raising awareness through education and by advocating for policy and legislative reform.

To learn more about the Georgia Innocence Project and Wrongful Conviction Day, please visit georgiainnocenceproject.org.

pierce-family-to-match-up-to-15k-in-donations-to-georgia-innocence-project-in-honor-of-wrongful-conviction-day

Pierce Family to match up to $15k in donations to Georgia Innocence Project  in honor of Wrongful Conviction Day

atlcachubb

ATLANTA –- Today Atlanta Hawks Head Coach Lloyd Pierce announced a multi-year partnership, pledging a significant financial contribution to the Georgia Innocence Project (GIP), an independent nonprofit organization that works to correct and prevent wrongful convictions in Georgia. Along with the donation, the Atlanta Hawks retail team has created a GIP and Hawks co-branded apparel bundle that is now available in the Hawks Shop and online. The bundle is $35 and includes a t-shirt, hat, and wristband. The items will be offered in two different color variations, a traditional black and red edition and a Peachtree-themed edition. The latter will only be sold in the store on Peachtree Nights. The Hawks will donate 20 percent of the proceeds generated from the bundle to GIP.

“We chose GIP because of the passionate people we've encountered who are dedicating their time and professional expertise to help others who are wrongfully convicted and have limited resources to fight for themselves. That level of commitment and passion is important to the Pierce family,” said Atlanta Hawks Head Coach Lloyd Pierce. “The mission is to not only spread awareness to the work they are doing, but to also attract others who can provide resources and reform laws while growing the community of individuals who can help exonerate the wrongfully accused.”

Coach Pierce and the Hawks will also host GIP exonerees and their family members, along with GIP staff and volunteers at select Hawks games in the Coaches Corner throughout the season.

“At Georgia Innocence Project, we strive to be a voice for all the imprisoned innocent people in our state. Today, thanks to Coach Pierce and our new partnership with the Hawks, we will be adding a whole new chorus of voices to that fight,” said Georgia Innocence Project Executive Director Clare Gilbert. “We are profoundly grateful and excited for this partnership, and for the opportunity to raise even more awareness about the epidemic of wrongful convictions in Georgia.”

Georgia Innocence Project provides free legal representation to people in Georgia who have been convicted of serious crimes that they did not commit. GIP also works to prevent future wrongful convictions by raising awareness through education and by advocating for policy and legislative reform.

Fans and supporters can purchase the co-branded bundle here: hawksshop.com/collections/gip

Georgia Innocence Project

Pierce Family to match up to $15k in donations to Georgia Innocence Project in honor of Wrongful Conviction Day

Atlanta Hawks Head Coach Lloyd Pierce Partners with GA Innocence Project to Prevent Wrongful Convictions